Typewriting machine



y 9- c. R. MABON 7 2,158,585

f TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l ay 16, 1939. x Q R MABON 2,158,585

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1936 4 SheetsSheet 2 May 16, 1939. c. R. MABON 2,153,585

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIII illlllqlllllylrllllzg y 16, 1939- c. R.IMABON I 2,158,585

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,158,585 mawmrma moms Application September 19, 1936, Serial No. 101,633

19 Claims. (Cl. 197-133) This invention relates to machines utilizable in recording data on stationery, such as paper record strips, as ordinary typewriting machines and the various other types of typewriting machines, and especially to machines of the character referred to, wherein the platen and platen carriage is shiftable as usual in both line spacing and letter spacing directions, and has special relation to feeding, controlling and aligning the record strips in their passage through such machines.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character referred to, of a compact arrangement of the platen together with pin feeding mechanism wherewith to accomplish the feeding movement and control of the record strips by a band of strip feeding pins having an elongated path of movement in the general direction of feeding of the strips.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character referred to, of a practical and improved pin-feeding mechanism having a band of strip feeding pins, and wherewith the pins may move into full strip feeding en gagement with the strips relatively slowly and without detracting from the rate of feeding required in usual line spacing feed movement in these machines.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character referred to,

30 of a simple and eflicient pin-feeding mechanism having a band of strip feeding pins, and which is adapted readily to be applied at the end of the platen of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provi- 5 sion, in a machine of the character referred to, of an eflicient pin-feeding device having a band of feed pins, and to effect relatively slow engagement of the pins with the strips and nevertheless enable relatively quick disengagement to be 40 eifected without employing a pin-feeding mechanism of undue length, and which is of a construction having little, if any, tendency to impair or otherwise injure the strip or margins of the feed apertures of the strip.

5- Another object of the invention 'is the provision, in a machine of the character referred to, of a practical and simple arrangement of strip feeding mechanism having a band of feed pins and wherein the feed pins may move in the gen- 50 eral direction of feed in a path inclined to the plane oi'sfeed of the strip and full feeding engagement of the pins with the strip apertures effected in a gradual manner so as to minimize any impairment of the strip.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a machine of the character referred to, of a construction having a band of strip feeding pins and wherewith the bases or roots of the feed pins may travel in the plane of the pitch-line of the chain or other pin carrier and at an angle to the path of the strip, with the shafts of the pins extending above or outside the plane of said pitch-line, and disengagement of the pins from the strip effected without impairing the registration of relatively superposed strips or injur- 1o ing the apertures in the strip. I I

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a machine of the character referred'to, of a practical, simple and efficient construction having a band of strip feeding pins and wherewith the 15 bases or roots of the strip feeding pins may travel. in a plane inside the pitch-line of the chain or other pin carrier, and the terminals of the pins may travel in substantially the plane of the pitchline of said chain, and effect feed engagement 20 with the strips in a gradual manner and so that a plurality of the pins simultaneously may be in feed engagement and minimize injury to the margins of the feed apertures in the strip.

Other objects and advantages will appear here- 25 inafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled" in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention as embodied in a typewriting recording machine of the character referred to; i

Fig. 2 is a. fore and aft vertical section of Fig. 1 on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, the showing being enlarged for clearer disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of Fig. 1,

viewed from the left;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of lengths of stationery suitable for being employed with the 5 present invention; v

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a conventional form of line spacing actuating and controlling mechanism found in typewriting machines;

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate details of a portion of the pin feeding mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a side view, partly in vertical section, on the line 9-9, Fig. 2, showing an arrangement of the platen and pin feed mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

vertical section, and its mounting;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing the arrangement for clamping or affixing the pin feed mechanism supporting block to the platen carriage of the machine;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of the supporting block, sprocket wheels and strip guide and retainer;

Fig. 13 is a view of one end of Fig. 2, modified to show a stripper in operative position;

Figs. 14 and 15 are different views of a modification of the pin-feeding devices; and

Fig. 16 shows a detail of the stripper.

Referring now more specifically to the draw-' shown), and with the other practical instrumentalities as usually provided in typewriting machines. It is not thought necessary to illustrate all the various details of the ordinary typewriting machine. It may be noted, however, that the platen 5 has a shaft I which is rotated by the.

line-space actuating mechanism and effects rotation of the platen in line spacing direction step by step, as usual in typewriting machines. On the shaft I-is mounted the customary ratchet wheel 8 rotatably driven to effect line spacing movement of the platen in one direction by the pawl 9, mounted upon the lever I and actuated through the connecting link I I and lever I2 from the line spacing lever 3.

Opposite one end of the platen is a wheel, as a sprocket wheel, which in the present embodimentis composed of two sprocket wheel sections I3 and II, aifixed to the shaft I to rotate therewith, and having a ball bearing mounting in one end of a bearing-block frame-block I5, hereinafter more specifically described, the axis of this sprocket wheel being coincident with the axis I of the platen.

The bearing block I5, before mentioned, may be a strong and rigid metal member cored out at the end referred to, for the reception of the ball bearing for the sprocket wheel sections I3 and I4, there being an opening through the block I5, through which passes the shaft I, and its surrounding sleeve I6, the sprocket wheel sections I3 and I4 each being firmly secured to the sleeve and the shaft 1 as by means of the screw pin I I.

At the opposite end of the bearing block I5, the

same is cored out to receive ball bearings for a second sprocket wheel, composed of the duplicate sprocket wheel sections I8 and I9, which are afllxed to the stub shaft 20 passing through an aperture in the block I 5, the sprocket wheel sections being afiixed to the stub shaft 20, and its surrounding sleeve by screw pins as explained in respect to tions I3 and I4, and the stub shaft 20 passing through a standard, which in the present embodiment is a strong and rigid plate 2|, firmly afllxed to one side of the shiftable platen carriage, as by means of the screws 22. The standard 2| may also be further braced in position, if desired, byproviding a standard or bracket 23, and aflixing it to the opposite side of the shiftable plat'en carriage the two plates 2I and illustrates one of the sprocket wheels in 23 being braced by one or more cross rods 2 firmly aflixed thereto. 0n the opposite side of the standard 2I from the sprocket wheels or sections I3, I4, I8 and I9, is a clamping block 25, which may be cored out to receive ball bearings for the stub shaft 20, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

In the central, longitudinal portion of the bearing block I5 is an opening 26, through which passes the angularly headed bolt 21, the bolt also passing through the standard 2| and the clamping block 25, a suitable nut 28 being provided to clamp the bearing block I5 securely in relation to the standard 25, the block I5 being braced in position also by the shafts 'I and 20. For locating the bearing block I5 at a selected distance from the standard'2l if desired, a spacer sleeve 29 disposed between the bearing block I5 and the standard 2I may be used.

It will be perceived that in thepresent construction the sprocket shafts I and 20 rotate in the bearing block I5 and in the clamping block 25. While this is a very practical arrangement, it is to be understood that the broader aspects of the invention admit of variation in the construction for supporting the bearing block I 5 and the aforesaid sprocket wheels on the platen carriage. And it is furthermore to be understood that whereas the present invention is disclosed in association with a typewriting machine having a shiftable platen carriage, the invention is in its broader aspects not limited in its application to typewriting machines provided with shiftable platen carriages, but may be utilized in machines wherein the platen may be fixed against letter spacing movement or case shift.

As shown in the drawings, a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins is employed, which pins (indicated by the numerals 4|) are adapted to enter and to feed the record strip or strips which-v are to receive imprint of the type 6. The invention may be utilized in feeding a single record strip and controlling the line spacing movement thereof, so that printing by the type may be'eifected at an accurately predetermined point or line of the record strip. The invention, however, is more particularly designed for feeding and controlling a number of record strips which are in superposed relation to each other, each of the strips having a series of feed apertures longitudinally spaced apart on the respective strips.

Fig. 5 illustrates a fragment of continuous paper stationery composed of a plurality of continuous record strips 30 having continuous transfer or carbon strips 3I interleaved therewith, in order that the typed imprint appearing on the original, or outermost, record strip 30 shall be copied onto each of the underlying record strips. The record strips 30 each usually is provided with a series of printed forms, as 32, Fig. 5, distributed throughout the length of the strip, the record 'strips and also the transfer strips being pro-' vided with a series of transverse weakening lines 33, designed to be in superposed registry, in order that when the typing of one set of superposed printed forms has been effected, such set may readily be torn from the continuous strips when desired. Also each of the record strips -30 is provided with a series or row of feed apertures 3|, at equal distances apart longitudinally of the strip and designed to be entered by the feed pins for the, purpose of feeding the strip or strips over the platen 5 and for controlling superposed strips relative to each other and to the printing point or printing line at the platen.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the feed apertures 34 of the platen 5, so that the pins, as they move are located at one side or margin only of the strips, and this is the preferred construction, inasmuch as the pin feed mechanism of the present invention eifectively controls and. feeds the strips and effects their alignment, when operating at but one side of the strips. It is to be understood, however, that apertures similar to the apertures 34 may be provided at the opposite margin .of the record strips of Fig. 5 if desired, and when this is done an additional pin feed mechanism according to the present invention may also be provided at the opposite side of the machine. As shown in Fig. 1, and as preferred, pin feed mechanism is located at the left hand side of the shiftable platen carriage, no pin feed mechanism appearing at the right hand side. In Fig. 5, the record strips 30 and the carbon strips 3| are separate and independent continuous strips, and, in each strip, the printed forms are in such relation to the apertures 34 that when the apertures are in superposed registry,

successive printed forms by, for instance, the

staples 35 which pass through both the record strips and the transfer strips, the staples being located on the weakening lines 33. It is to be understood,'however, that the strips of Fig. 4 may be attached together at intervals by other means than the staples, and that the apertures at one margin may be omitted if desired.

For guiding and moving the strip feeding pins to eifect feeding of the record strips, a flexible endless carrier or pin guiding member, is employed, and passes around both the sprocket wheels hereinbefore mentioned. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the endless carrier, or pin guiding member, takes the form of a chain of pivotally connected links, certain of the links, as 36, being feed-pin carrying links, and alternating with links 31, which have no feed pins. It is to be understood, however, that each successive link of the chain may be a feedpin carrying link when utilizing the present invention. The pin guiding member cooperates to move the strip feeding pins 4| in a path having an elongated part opposite or alongside the path of the strip and leading away from the platen, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 2, where the elongated part is the reach of the chain between the sprocket wheels, it being seen that the axis of the sprocket wheel formed by the sections I8 and I 9 is spaced from the axis formed by the sprocket wheel sections I3 and H, thereby providing an elongated part of the path of the chain.

In accordance with an important feature of this invention, the elongated path of the pins 4| inclines toward the strip path in the gen eral direction of feed of the strip, and the strip advancing,'or feeding movement, of the pins is in a plane at an angle to the adjacent path of the record strips, this elongated path being substantially straight. Furthermore, the pitch circle wherein the several teeth 33 of the sprocket wheel sections. 3 and M (which are opposite the end of the platen) engage the pivots 33 connecting the links of the chain to each other (see Figs. 7 and 8) is of less radius than that in that part of their path around with the sprocket wheel sections I3 and I4, adjacent the platen, may enter upon their elongated path (in the direction of the strip feed) in a plane well beneath or inside the plane of the record'strips and as the pins proceed along their elongated path toward the other sprocket wheel sections l8 and I9, a plurality of the pins simultaneously receive strip entering movements along parallel lines and rise gradually toward the path of the strip and eventually and successively enter the relevant apertures in the strip, their movement to full strip engaging and feeding relation being progressive. Inasmuch as the apertures in the strip may be longitudinally spaced apart the same relative distance as are the pins on the pin guiding member, and the difference in diameter between the pins and apertures may be very small, as is preferred, the inclination of the elongated path of the pins to that of the strip offers an opportunity for the pins to enter the strip relatively slowly until full entry is effected, whereupon a plurality of the pins may simultaneously accomplish strip feeding, and thus the strip, especially the margin of the respective apertures therein, is not so apt to be.crump1ed or torn or otherwise injured as might be the case in constructions in which the pins effect rapid entry into the apertures. Thus the inclination of the elongated path of the pins to the path of the strip possesses important attributes of its own as an invention for strip feeding.

Another feature of the invention which is of importance in conjunction with the inclined, elongated path of the pins, resides in the arrangement of the strip engaging and feeding sections of the pins in a plane inside the pitch line, or line of centers of the pivotal axes of the links of the chain. In respect to this feature, it will be noted that each link of the chain has two pivots or pivot pins 39, between its opposite side members, and that each of the pin carrying links 36 has a pin support 40, the same being preferably a strong and rigid plate laterally projecting from such link at a plane inside the line of centers of the pivots 39 of the link, this lineof centers being generally indicated by the line :r:c in Fig. 7, and corresponding to what may be termed the pitch line of the chain, or flexible carrier, the feed pins 4| being mounted upon the support 40 and extending from said support and from a plane inside or below said line ofcenters ,pivotal movement relative to each other as they pass from the elongated path to their curved path around the sprocket wheel sections l3 and Hi.

As mentioned above, the pitch-line of the flexible pin supporting element such as the chain of pivotal links disclosed may be defined as the line of centers of the pivotal connections 39 between the chain links. Therefore, the pitch-line where the chain engages the supporting sprockets is substantially circular and the pitch-lines-i'ntiermediate the sprockets lies substantiallyim a straight line which is substantially tangential to the pitch-line at the sprockets. Also, as mentioned, the strip engaging feed transmitting parts or shafts of the feed pins 4| preferably lie inside of the pitch line of the chain; since the pins lie to one side of the chain it is more nearly accurate to say that the strip engaging feed shafts of the pins lie inside of the pitch surface of the chain. For the purpose of this description the pitch surface of the chain may be defined as an imaginary surface lying substantially perpendicular to the direction of the length of the feed pins or approximately parallel to the axes of rotation of the sprocket wheels, and passing through and defined by the pitch-line.

In order to provide a practical and simple construction for giving an elongated inclined path to the pins relative to that of the strip coming from the platen, the pitch circle of the sprocket wheel sections l8 and I9 may be of greater diameter than that of the pitch circle of the sprocket wheel sections l3 and I4. Such an arrangement provides for a simple and compact structure of the pin feeding mechanism with its inclined, elongated pin path.

While it may not be required in all cases to support the pins directly beneath'the same as they move in their inclined elongated path between the sprocket wheels, it is desirable in some cases to do so, and a practical device for the purpose may readily be provided by the trackway 42, which is a smooth, rigid plate laterally projecting from the bearing block l5. As shown, the plate 42 is affixed to the top of said block by the screws 43, the trackway 42 being inclined to the path of the strip and parallel to the upper face of the block I5, the end of block |5 adjacent the platen being reduced in height relative to its other end.

It is desirable in some constructions to provide a device for retaining the strips on the pins until disengagement is desired, especially when very rapid feed is to be effected. To this end, a strip retainer as the plate 43, may be set alongside and above or outside the path of the pins, the ends of the pins rising above or outside this plate when in full engagement with the apertures in the strip. As illustrated, this strip retaining plate may have a slot 44 for receiving the ends of the pins as they travel in their elongated path and the plate may be thrown into and out of strip retaining position, being mounted upon an arm 45 pivoted at 46 to a bracket 41 affixed to the top of the clamping block 25, the retainer plate 4;! being urged to operative position adjacent the pins by a spring 48, the spring being arranged also to hold the plate 43* in inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. 12. For limiting the movement of the plate 43 toward the strip, stops 49, formed integral with the bracket 41, may be employed. The strip retainer plate 43 is inclined to the elongated path of the pins, and in the present embodiment permits the strip 33 to move from the periphery of the platen in a straight path through the pin feeding mechanism.

Whereas this invention is adapted for the feeding of either a single'or a number of relatively superposed strips, the apertures in which are relatively large as compared with the diameter of the pins, apertures of very small diameter may be employed and are preferred, as they lessen the amount 9f strip mutilation caused by mere presence of the apertures and do not so greatly impair the strength of the strips. Apertures of normal tolerance may be used, a tolerance of one-sixty-second of an inch being suitable in many instances.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the chain, and the pin supports 40 mounted thereon and of the pins 4| on the supports is the same as disclosed in applicant's prior applications Serial No. 54,102, filed December 12, 1935, and Serial No. 96,516, filed August 17, 1936, to which reference is made for more detailed description. The pin and chain construction referred to is not particularly claimed in the present application which relates entirely to improvements over the earlier applications referred to and the claims herein are limited accordingly. It is also to be understood that reference is made to applicant's application, Serial No. 757,502, filed December 14, 1934, for more detailed description of the construction and operation of the rear strip supporting and guiding device, including the strip supporting and guiding plates 50, and their adjacent parts.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Fig. 13, it may be desirable in some cases positively to guide the record strips where the feed pins are about to leave the feed apertures, and so as to effect disengagement of the pins from their apertures before the. relevant pin moves from its elongated to its circular path around the sprocket wheel sections l8 and I8. To this end a stripper or stripper-member, as the relatively thin guide plate 5|, has one end 52, disposed at the level of the bases of the feed pins 4|, and immediately above or outside ,the path of the pin supporting plates 48, the end 52 being forked as at 53, providing an opening to permit passage of the pins 4| therethrough, the plate 5| also gradually rising upwardly, or outwardly, of the path of the pins, as by the curved portion 54, so that the record strips, as they advance, will be caused to move upwardly and off the pins 4|, and will become disengaged from the strips at or before the disengaging pin takes its next succeeding curved path around the sprocket wheel sections I8 and IS. The stripper plate 5| may be stationary and readily detachable and have one end 55 hooked around and secured to the uppermost brace rod 24, and its intermediate portion may be supported on a bracket rod 56, afflxed to the side standard 2|, so as to be supported in stripping position.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 is the same as described hereinbefore, except that the pin supports or plates 51, which correspond to the pin supports 40, of the other figures, lie in substantially the plane of the pitch-line or line of centers of the pivotal axes of the links of the chain (see Fig. 15), the trackway 58 being located to uphold the plates 51 in said plane, and the feed pins 59 having their strip engaging and feeding sections extending outwardly from the plane of said pitch-line, or line of centers'of the pivots'of the chain. Also whereas in the construction illustrated in Fig, 13, the forked terminal of the stripper 5| lies in a plane inside that of said; pitch-line, the forked terminal of the similar stripper 60 of Figs. 14 and 15 lies outside said plane and moves there'cord strip upwardly and off the pins and effects disengagement of the pins from the apertures in succession prior to the pin taking its curved path around the adjacent sprocket wheel. In the construction. as in Fig. 13, it is to be understood that the use of the stripper, as 5|, is optional, and that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited thereto. in the construction illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, where the bases of strip engaging and feeding sections of the pins are in substantially the plane of the pitch line of the chain, a stripper,

as 60, becomes the more important, the greater the number of relatively superposed strips being fed bythe pin-feed mechanism.

It will furthermore be observedthat although the feed pins 4| may have simultaneous movement along parallel lines toward the strip and a plurality of the pins may have simultaneous engagement with the apertures in the strip, some apertures being entered further than others by the pins, the disengagement of the pins one after the other from the strip is accomplished quite rapidly and smoothly and with minimum strain on the margins of the apertures. Also, it will be noticed, referring particularly to Fig. 2, that the feed pins 4| are longitudinally spaced close enough together so that a plurality of said pins are simultaneously positioned at the straight part of the pin path between the sprockets.- Since this part of the pin path converges in the direction of pin advancement with the strip path, it will be seen that a plurality of the serially arranged pins will be caused to be in the act of entering the feed apertures of the strips at any given moment. The beneficial result of this arrangement is that the pins will be caused to enter into strip feeding engagement with the strips by a continuous smooth even action, thus assuring the entry of the pins into the strip apertures without undue obstruction or binding and in this manner promoting the accuracy of the strip feed. During this strip entering action of the pins it is important to note that strip feeding effort will at the same time be transmitted through the pins to the strip. When this part of the pin path is substantially straight, as shown, the pins will move substantially parallel to each other during the aperture entering movements thereof.

Although the invention is herein exemplified in an embodiment wherein the pin-guiding member is a chain of pivotally connected links having movement in a. path in part circular, it is to be understood that other types of pin carrying mem- 'feeding mechanism and platen is provided which is adapted for efliciently effecting the various line spacing feeding operations as well as general strip feeding and strip registering or aligning operations attendant upon typewriting machines of the character referred to. The pin-feeding mechanism may readily be mounted and associated with the platen of an otherwise ordinary typewriting machine and without disturbing the platen from its usual position or its usual operation. Ordinarily the platen of each of the disclosed embodiments will not be utilized for exerting feeding effort on the strip or strip assembly, but in case it is desired to supplement feed by the feed pins by use of the platen, the pin feed mechanism will be so geared as to transmit strip feeding movement at the same rate as that transmitted by the platen. The full width of the platen is effective for typing either on wide or narrow stationery and the pin feed mechanism at the end of the platen forms a relatively small I unit, unobjectionable in appearance, and which is capable of positively feeding and line-spacing the apertured continuous record strips or other apertured stationery which may be employed. The record strips may proceed around the platen and lead off from the platen as usual, inasmuch as the feed pins at the end of the platen are below or inside the peripheral surface or the surface extended of the latter, and the elongated path of the pins provided by the upper reach of the flexible band, or chain, enables the pins gradually to approach the plane or path of the record strips so that the terminal of each individual pin enters its aperture relatively slowly and with small, if any, tendency to disturb the margins of the apertures in the strips, and nevertheless the rate of feed of the strips may be the same as required of typewriting machines. It will be noted,- particularly upon reference to Figs. 2,13, 14, etc., that the feed pins as they move in their path converging with that of the record strips will successively initially contact at their free ends with the lower surface of the strip assembly, thus initially entering the feed apertures. The exact position of each pin as it thus initially contacts with the strips will be determined to some extent by the number of strips in the assembly or the assembly thickness which may vary considerably for different classes of business. After initial contact each pin as it advances with the chain moves gradually into feed transmitting engagement with the strip apertures, and reaches fully engaged position substantially at the point of tangency of the strip path with the sprocket l8 of Fig. 2. Each pin is thus gradually eased into strip feeding engagement with its strip receiving set of apertures, and the action during this entry is smooth and even as well as gradual. Due to the elongated converging pin and strip paths it will thus be clear that a plurality of the longitudinally spaced pins are at any given moment in the act of entering into, strip feeding engagement with the apertures, although the different successive entering pins will be at different degrees of strip entry.

Each of the plurality of simultaneously entering pins thus exerts its individual influence in feeding and aligning the strip assembly, and the cumulative effect is to impart accurate strip feed without objectionable binding or obstruction during entry of the pins into strip feeding engagement with the apertures. The result is that the strip assembly is advanced with great accuracy to bring pree determined spaces or inscription receiving lines thereof into exact registration with the writing line of the writing machine. Having arrivedin full feeding engagement with the strips, the individual pins each subsequently moves in its path around the remote sprocket wheel sections l8 and I9, and relatively quick disengagement of the pin from the strip is effected smoothly and with little, if any, tendency to injure the aperture. In the form exemplified, for instance, in Figs. 2, 9 and 10, the easy and relatively quick disengagement of the pins from the strip is promoted by the shafts or bodies of the pins being inside the pitch line of the chain. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1.4 and 15, wherein the bases or roots of the feed pins are substantially in the plane of the pitch line of the chain, the easy and quick disengagement of the pins fromthe strip is promoted by the stripper 5| the use of the stripper being optional, but being of advantage when a relatively large number of superposed strips are to he disengaged from the feed pins. The actuation of the pin feed mechanism is readily effected by operation of the line spacing lever 3 in the usual manner, as in typewriting machines.

It will also be perceived that by throwing the feed rolls GI and 62 into strip-gripping relation to the platen, reverse line-spacing of the strips may readily be eflected by merely reversely rotating the platen, which operation will also actuate the pin feeding mechanism in the reverse direction of the line spacing. Such reverse line spacing movements will usually be quite small, but should they be continued for a considerable distance there will besome slippage of the strips over the platen due to the fact that the peripheral platen surface travels faster than the feed pins.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character describedfor feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a series of feed pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip, means, including a flexible pin-guiding member on which said pins are mounted and a supporting device for said member, cooperable to move said pins in a path having an elongated substantially straight part opposite the path of the strip inclining toward the strippath from a point whereat the strip engaging and feeding sections of said pins are inside the pitch surface of said flexible member, and cause such pins to enter and feed the strip.

2. In a machine of the character described for feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a series of feed pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip, means, including a flexible pin-guiding member on which said pins are mounted and a supporting device for said member,- cooperable to move said pins in a path having an elongated part opposite the path of the strip inclining toward the strip-path from a point whereat the strip engaging and feeding sections of said pinsare inside the pitch surface of said flexible member, and cause such pins to enter and feed the strip, a plurality of said feed pins being positioned at the same time at said elongated inclining part of the flexible pin guiding member and having their strip engaging parts related to the strip path so as to cause a plurality of the pins to be moved simultaneously into feeding engagement with the strip, said strip having a series of feed-apertures for entry of the pins, the apertures being spaced apart as are said pins.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which arecord strip is adapted to pass, a pair of sprocket wheels having axes spaced apart, one of said sprocket wheels being opposite the end of said platen, a flexible, pin-guiding member passing around said spaced sprocket wheels and having an elongated path therebetween, a series of longitudinally spaced strip feeding pins mounted on said flexible member and movable in a path in part around said oppositely positioned sprocket wheels and inside the surface extended of the periphery of said platen, and in part in an elongated path toward the other sprocket wheel, and means for simultaneously moving along parallel lines and at different degrees of strip entry a plurality of said longitudinally spaced pins into strip feeding engagement at said elongated path of the pin guiding member, the strip engaging and feeding sections of said pins being inside the pitch surface of said flexible member.

4. In a typewriting machine. the combination.

of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, a pair of wheels one of which is a sprocket wheel, said wheels having axes spaced apart, one of said wheels being opposite the end of said platen, a flexible, pin-guiding member passing around said spaced wheels and having an elongated path therebetween, and a series of strip feeding pins mounted on said flexible member and movable in a path in part around one of said wheels and inside thesurface extended of the periphery of said platen, and in part in an elongated path toward the other wheel, the elongated path of said pins being inclined to the path of the strip, the strip engaging and feeding sections of said pins being inside the pitch surface of said flexible member.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, a pair of wheels one of which is a sprocket wheel, said wheels having axes spaced apart, one of said wheels being opposite the end of said platen, a flexible, pin-guiding member passing around said spaced wheels and having an elongated path therebetween, and a series of strip feeding pins mounted on said flexible member and movable in a path in part around one of said wheels and inside the surface extended of the periphery of said platen, and in part in an elongated path toward the other wheel, the elongated path of said pins being inclined to the path of the strip, the strip engaging and feeding sections of said pins being inside the pitch surface of said flexible member, the terminals of said pins being positioned substantially at said pitch surface.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, strip feeding mechanism including a sprocket wheel having its axis coincident with the axis of said platen, a second supporting wheel spaced from the platen axis in direction of feed of said strip, an endless chain of pivotally connected links surrounding said spaced wheels, a pin support, laterally projecting from each of a plurality of links of said chain. at a plane inside the line of centers of the pivotal axes of said links, said supports each having a strip feeding pin mounted thereon and extending from the support toward said line of centers, and means for actuating said strip feeding mechanism.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, strip feeding mechanism including a sprocket wheel having its axis coincident with the axis of said platen, a second supporting wheel spaced from the platen axis in direction of feed of said strip, an endless chain of pivotally connected links surrounding said spaced wheels, a pin support, laterally projecting from each of-a plurality of links of said chain at a plane inside the line of centers of the pivotal axes of said links, said supports each having a strip feeding pin mounted thereon and extending from the support toward said line of centers, and means for actuating said strip feeding mechanism, the pitch-circle of said sprocket wheel being of less radius than that of said platen.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, strip feeding mechanism indirection of feed of said strip, an endless chain .of .pivotally connected links surrounding said spaced sprocket wheels, a pin support, laterally projecting from each of a plurality of links of said chain at a plane inside the line of centers of the pivotal axes of said links, said supports each having a strip feeding pin mounted thereon and extending from the support toward said line of centers, and means for actuating said strip feeding mechanism, the pitch-circle of said first-mentioned sprocket wheel being of less radius than that of said platen, the pitch-circle of said second sprocket wheel being greater than that of said first mentioned sprocket wheel.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable platen over which a record strip is adapted to pass, strip feeding mechan sm including a sprocket wheel having its axis coincident with the axis of said platen, a second sprocket wheel spaced from the platen axis in direction of feed of said strip, an endless chain of pivbtally connected links surrounding said spaced sprocket wheels, a pin support, laterally projecting from each of a plurality of links of said chain at a plane inside the line of centers of the pivotal axes of said links, said supports each having a strip feeding pin mounted thereon and extending from the support toward said line of centers, means for actuating said strip feeding mechanism, and a trackway between said sprocket wheels and inclined to the path of the strip, cooperable to support said pins for travel between said sprocket wheels.

10. Ina machine of the character described for feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of longitudinally spaced strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip and having a path of movement in part alongside the path of'the strip, and means for imparting simultaneous movement into strip feedingengagement to a plura'lity of said longitudinally spaced feeding pins during. movement thereof parallel to each other. 11. In a machine of the character described for feeding. and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strips and having a path of movement in part alongside the path of the strip, and means, including a chain of pivotally connected links and sprocket wheels, driving said chain in a path in part circular and in part straight, said straight part of said chain path being at an angle to the. path of the strip, each of said pins having a pinsupport in a plane inside the pitch surface of said chain and connected to and laterally projecting from a link of said chain.

.12. In a machine of the character described for feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip and having a path of movement in part alongside the path of the strip, and means, including a chain of pivotally connected links, and sprocket wheels driving said chain in a path in part cir- "said chain and connected to and laterally projecting from a link of said chain, and a stripper cooperable to move said strip off each of said pins prior to a succeeding movement of the pin in the circular part of its path.

13. In a machine of the character described for. feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip and having a path of movement in part along side the path of the strip, and means including a chain of pivotally connected links, and sprocket wheels driving said chain in a path in part circular and in part straight and said straight part of the chain path being positioned alongside of the strip path and converging in the direction of travel with the latter, each of said pins having a pin-support in the plane substantially of the line of centers of the pivotal axes of the links of said chain and connected to and laterally projecting from a link of said chain,

14. In a machine of the character described for feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip and said strip off said pins in succession prior to succeeding movement of the pin in the circular part of its path. I

15. In a machine of the character described for feeding and controlling record strips, the combination of a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins adapted to enter and to feed the strip and having a path of movement in part alongside the path of-the strip, means including a chain of pivotally connected links and sprocket wheels, driving said chain in a path in part circular and in part straight and alongside the path of the strip at an angle to the path of the strip, each of said pins having a pin-support in the plane substantially of the line of centers of the pivotal axes of the links of said chain and connected to and laterally projecting from a link of said chain, and a stationary stripper member disposed for receiving the strip delivered from said pins, said member having an opening for passage of said pins.

16. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a longitudinal series of strip en-, gaging strip feeding pins having a path of movement in part alongside of the path of the strip, means for causing strip feeding movement of said feeding pins along an'elongated path part converging with the strip path, whereat the pins are in the act of entering into feed transmitting relation with the strip, and a plurality of said serially arranged pins being positioned at the same time at said elongated converging path part that said strip entering movements are simultaneously imparted to a plurality of said' serially arranged pins.

17. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a longitudinal series of strip engaging strip feeding pins having a path of movement in part alongside of the path of the strip, means for causing strip feeding movement of said feeding pins along an elongated substantially straight path part converging with the strip path, whereat the pins are in the act of entering into feed transmitting relation with the strip, and a plu-.

rality of said serially arranged pins being positioned at the same time at said straight path part so that said strip entering movements are si-" and having its strip guiding surface converging with said path in the direction of strip feed so as to direct the strips in a path converging with said pin path, a plurality of said serially arranged feeding pins being simultaneously positioned opposite to said guide and having their free ends related to said strip path so that a plurality of longitudinally spaced pins are simultaneously in the act of entering into feed transmitting relation- With the strip.

19. In a machine of the character described,

greases in combination, a longitudinal series of strip feeding pins positioned to enter and feed the strips and having a path of movement in part alongside of the strip path, a chain of pivotally connected links supporting said feeding pins, means for driving said chain alongside the strip path and in a path converging with the strip path in the direction of strip feed, a plurality of said serially arranged feeding pins being simultaneously positioned at said converging path and having their free ends related to said strip path so that a plurality of longitudinally spaced pins are simultaneously in the act of entering into feed transmitting relation with the strip, and a stripper positioned to remove said strips from said pins in succession after the pins have performed their strip feeding function.

CARL R. MABON. 

